CUMULUS MEDIA INC - Quarter Report: 2006 September (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006.

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For or the transition period from                      to

Commission file number 000-24525

CUMULUS MEDIA INC.

Delaware		36-4159663
(State or Other Jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)		Identification No.)
14 Piedmont Center, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA		30305
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(ZIP Code)

(404) 949-0700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o      Accelerated filer þ     Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ

As of October 31, 2006, the registrant had 42,729,857 outstanding shares of common stock consisting of (i) 35,454,227 shares of Class A Common Stock; (ii) 6,630,759 shares of Class B Common Stock; and (iii) 644,871 shares of Class C Common Stock.

 

 

CUMULUS MEDIA INC.

INDEX

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 and 2005
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
Signature
Exhibit Index
EX-10.1 GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
EX-31.1 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CEO
EX-31.2 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CFO
EX-32.1 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATIONS OF CEO/CFO

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

CUMULUS MEDIA INC.

		September 30,				December 31,
		2006				2005
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	6,694			$	5,121
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,955 and $2,404, respectively			55,310				54,258
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			11,768				11,705
Deferred tax assets			154				154
Total current assets			73,926				71,238
Property and equipment, net			74,350				87,588
Intangible assets, net			988,227				1,041,340
Goodwill			185,853				185,517
Investment in affiliate			73,356				—
Other assets			15,387				20,683
Total assets		$	1,411,099			$	1,406,366
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	32,114			$	29,561
Current portion of long-term debt			7,500				—
Total current liabilities			39,614				29,561
Long-term debt			760,375				569,000
Other liabilities			17,223				17,925
Deferred income taxes			212,916				203,870
Total liabilities			1,030,128				820,356
Preferred stock, 20,262,000 shares authorized, par value $0.01 per share, including: 250,000 shares designated as 13 3/4% Series A Cumulative Exchangeable Redeemable Stock due 2009, stated value $1,000 per share, and 12,000 shares designated as 12% Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock, stated value $10,000 per share: 0 shares issued and outstanding			—				—
Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 58,485,879 and 58,307,248 shares issued, respectively; 35,454,227 and 49,536,596 shares outstanding, respectively			585				583
Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 6,630,759 and 11,630,759 shares issued and outstanding			66				116
Class C common stock, par value $.01 per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 644,871 shares issued and outstanding			6				6
Treasury Stock, at cost, 23,031,652 and 8,770,652 shares, respectively			(276,874	)			(110,379	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			7,117				7,401
Additional paid-in-capital			971,654				1,016,687
Accumulated deficit			(316,591	)			(323,412	)
Loan to officer			(4,992	)			(4,992	)
Total stockholders’ equity			380,971				586,010
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	1,411,099,			$	1,406,366

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CUMULUS MEDIA INC.

		Three Months				Three Months				Nine Months				Nine Months
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Ended
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005				September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005
Broadcast revenues		$	82,947			$	85,326			$	244,932			$	244,889
Management fee from affiliate			1,004				—				1,630				—
Net revenues			83,951				85,326				246,562				244,889
Operating expenses:
Station operating expenses, excluding depreciation, amortization and LMA fees (including non-cash termination costs of $0 in 2006 and $0 for the three and $13,571 for the nine months in 2005)			51,877				52,891				160,608				171,695
Depreciation and amortization			4,236				5,464				13,562				16,277
Gain on assets transferred to affiliate			—				—				(2,548	)			—
LMA fees			400				174				797				720
Corporate general and administrative (including non-cash stock compensation expense of $3,696, $774, $10,765 and $2,442, respectively )			7,077				4,389				22,845				13,651
Restructuring credits			—				—				—				(215	)
Total operating expenses			63,590				62,918				195,264				202,128
Operating income			20,361				22,408				51,298				42,761
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest expense			(14,477	)			(5,678	)			(30,206	)			(17,474	)
Interest income			239				163				542				957
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			—				(1,192	)			(2,284	)			(1,192	)
Other income (expense), net			(117	)			451				45				429
Total nonoperating expenses, net			(14,355	)			(6,256	)			(31,903	)			(17,280	)
Income before income taxes			6,006				16,152				19,395				25,481
Income tax expense			(3,696	)			(7,020	)			(9,046	)			(20,500	)
Equity in loss of affiliate			(1,041	)			—				(3,528	)			—
Net income		$	1,269			$	9,132			$	6,821			$	4,981
Basic and diluted income per common share:
Basic income per common share		$	0.03			$	0.14			$	0.13			$	0.07
Diluted income per common share		$	0.03			$	0.13			$	0.12			$	0.07
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding			42,623,395				66,227,561				53,654,681				68,137,015
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding			43,721,263				67,683,053				54,975,235				69,703,696

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CUMULUS MEDIA INC.

		Nine Months				Nine Months
		Ended				Ended
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	6,821			$	4,981
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Write-off of debt issue costs			2,284				1,192
Depreciation			13,147				15,765
Amortization of intangible assets and other assets			289				512
Amortization of debt issuance costs			126				283
Provision for doubtful accounts			2,461				2,800
Non-cash contract termination costs			—				13,571
Adjustment of the fair value of derivative instruments			(118	)			357
Deferred income taxes			9,046				20,500
Non-cash stock compensation			10,765				2,442
Net gain on disposition of fixed assets			99				(931	)
Adjustment of restructuring charges			—				(215	)
Gain on transfer of assets to unconsolidated affiliate			(2,548	)			—
Equity gain (loss) on investment in unconsolidated affiliate			3,528				—
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable			(5,531	)			(7,066	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(1,464	)			1,942
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			3,020				4,755
Other assets			2,223				(2,291	)
Other liabilities			97				940
Net cash provided by operating activities			44,245				59,537
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions, including investment in affiliate			(2,733	)			(47,389	)
Purchase of intangible assets			(9,152	)			(36,689	)
Escrow deposits on pending acquisitions			1,907				(2,347	)
Capital expenditures			(8,165	)			(6,901	)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets			—				2,620
Other			192				(336	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(17,951	)			(91,042	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from bank credit facility			814,750				624,000
Repayments of borrowings from bank credit facility			(615,875	)			(549,102	)
Payments for debt issuance costs			(1,255	)			(4,395	)
Payment for repurchase of common stock			(223,995	)			(63,347	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			1,654				578
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(24,721	)			7,734
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			1,573				(23,771	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			5,121				31,960
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	6,694			$	8,189
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid		$	32,037			$	17,864
Income taxes paid			—				—
Non-cash operating and financing activities:
Trade revenue		$	13,167			$	12,509
Trade expense			13,209				12,023

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

Cumulus Media Inc.

1. Interim Financial Data and Basis of Presentation

Interim Financial Data

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Cumulus Media Inc. (“Cumulus” or the “Company”) and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10.01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results of the interim periods have been made and such adjustments were of a normal and recurring nature. The results of operations and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to bad debts, intangible assets, derivative financial instruments, income taxes, restructuring, contingencies and litigation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment. SFAS No. 123(R) requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions be recognized in financial statements and measured based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method effective January 1, 2006. See Note 2 for further discussion of the Company’s adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).

On March 30, 2005, the FASB issued FIN 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations, which clarifies when an entity must record a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation if the fair value of the obligation can be reasonably estimated. The types of asset retirement obligations that are covered by FIN 47 are those for which an entity has a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity; however, the timing and/or method of settling the obligation are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. FIN 47, which also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation, was effective for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006. The adoption by the Company of FIN 47 did not have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections — A Replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and SFAS No. 3. SFAS No. 154 changes the requirements for the accounting and reporting of a change in accounting principle by requiring that a voluntary change in accounting principle be applied retrospectively with all prior periods’ financial statements presented on the new accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS No. 154 also requires that a change in depreciation or amortization for long-lived, non-financial assets be accounted for as a change in accounting estimate effected by a change in accounting principle and corrections of errors in previously issued financial statements should be termed a “restatement”. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company believes that the adoption of SFAS No. 154 has not had an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, which amends SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of the Company’s fiscal year 2007 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” which defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits or liabilities of tax return positions in a company’s financial statements. The Interpretation is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company has not yet determined the impact of this new pronouncement; however, the Company will begin to assess its tax return positions in order to apply the provisions of the new Interpretation for its fiscal year beginning January 1, 2007.

In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB No. 108”). SAB No. 108 addresses quantifying the financial statement effects of misstatements, specifically, how the effects of prior year uncorrected errors must be considered in quantifying misstatements in the current year financial statements. SAB No. 108 does not amend or change the SEC Staff’s previous positions in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, “Materiality,” regarding qualitative considerations in assessing the materiality of misstatements. SAB No. 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. We are currently evaluating the impact of SAB No. 108.

Accounting for National Advertising Agency Contract

In May 2005, the Company was released from its pre-existing national advertising sales agency contract with Interep National Radio, Inc. and engaged Katz Media Group, Inc. (“Katz”) as its new national advertising sales agent. The contract has several economic elements which principally reduce the overall expected commission rate below the stated base rate. The Company estimates the overall expected commission rate over the entire contract period and applies that rate to commissionable revenue throughout the contract period with the goal of estimating and recording a stable commission rate over the life of the contract.

The following are the principal economic elements of the contract that can affect the base commission rate:

	•		A $13.6 million non-cash charge related to the termination of our contract with our former national advertising agent.
	•		Potential commission rebates from Katz in the event that revenue from national advertising does not meet stated targets for certain periods during the contract term. These amounts are measured annually with settlement to occur shortly thereafter. The amounts deemed probable for the periods presented of settlement relate to national advertising revenues from the first year and a portion of the second year of the Katz contract.
	•		Potential additional commissions in excess of the base rates if Katz should exceed certain revenue targets. No additional commission payments have been assumed for the periods presented.

The potential commission adjustments are estimated and combined in the balance sheet with the contractual termination liability. That liability is adjusted to commission expense to effectuate the stable commission rate over the course of the Katz contract.

The Company’s accounting for and calculation of commission expense to be realized over the life of the Katz contract requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect reported amounts of commission expense. Actual results may differ from management’s estimates. Over the course of the Company’s contractual relationship with Katz, management will continually update its assessment of the effective commission expense attributable to national sales in an effort to record a consistent commission rate over the term of the Katz contract.

2. Stock Based Compensation

Effective January 1 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R). The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of its stock options. The determination of the fair value of the awards on the date of grant, using an option-pricing model, is affected by the Company’s stock price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables and is based principally on the historical volatility. These variables include its expected stock price volatility over the expected term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, risk-free interest rates and expected dividends.

Stock options of 431,050 shares were granted during the three months ended September 30, 2006. In February 2005, the Company granted 367,000 options. Stock options vest over four years and have a maximum contractual term of ten years. The Company estimates the volatility of its common stock by using a weighted average of historical stock price volatility over the expected term of the options. Due to the long life of expected options, management believes historical volatility is a better measure than implied volatility. The Company bases the risk-free interest rate that it uses in its option pricing model on U.S. Treasury Zero Coupon strip issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term of the options. The Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future and therefore uses an expected dividend yield of zero in the option pricing model. The Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from estimates. Similar to the expected-term assumption used in the valuation of awards, the Company splits its population into two categories, (1) executives and (2) non-executive employees. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded only for those awards that are expected to vest. All stock-based payment awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods. The assumptions used for valuation of the 2005 option awards were an expected term of 7.5 years; volatility of 81%; risk-free rate of 4.2%; and an expected dividend rate of 0%. The assumptions used for valuation of the 2006 option awards were an expected term of 7.5 years; volatility of 74.5%; risk-free rate of 4.99%; and an expected dividend rate of 0%.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recognized approximately $2.9 million and $8.4 million, respectively, in non-cash stock-based compensation expense relating to stock options. There is no tax benefit associated with this expense due to the Company’s net operating loss position. Under the previously acceptable accounting method, there would have been no compensation expense recognized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.

The Company has also issued restricted stock awards to certain key employees. Generally, the restricted stock vests over a four-year period, thus the Company recognizes compensation expense over the four-year period equal to the grant date value of the shares awarded to the employee. Should the non-vested stock awards include performance or market conditions, management will examine the appropriate requisite service period to recognize the cost associated with the award on a case-by-case basis. The Company has several different plans under which stock options or restricted stock awards have been or may be granted. A complete description of these plans is contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

As of September 30, 2006, there was unrecognized compensation costs, adjusted for estimated forfeitures (with a range from approximately 0% to 21%), of approximately $14.5 million related to non-vested stock options and approximately $7.9 million related restricted stock options that will be recognized over 4.0 and 7.5 years, respectively. Total unrecognized compensation cost will be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures.

The Company also has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) that allows qualifying employees to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at the end of each calendar year at 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the Class A Common Stock on the first or last trading day of the year. Due to the significant discount offered and the inclusion of a look-back feature, the Company’s current ESPP is considered compensatory upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).

Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company applied the intrinsic value-based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations, including FASB Interpretation No. 44, Accounting for Certain Transactions involving Stock Compensation, an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25. The following table illustrates the pro forma effect on net income if the fair value-based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested awards in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 (dollars in thousands except for per share data).

		Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2005				September 30, 2005
Net income, as reported		$	9,132			$	4,981
Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income			774				2,442
Deduct: Total stock based compensation expense determined under fair value-based method			(3,012	)			(9,423	)
Pro forma net income/(loss)		$	6,894			$	(2,000	)
Basic income/(loss) per common share:
As reported		$	0.14			$	0.07
Pro forma		$	0.10			$	(0.03	)
Diluted income/(loss) per common share:
As reported		$	0.13			$	0.07
Pro forma		$	0.10			$	(0.03	)

The following table sets forth the summary of option activity under the Company’s stock option plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006:

						Exercise				Weighted Avg
		Shares				Price per share				Exercise Price
Balance December 31, 2005			10,073,220			$	2.79–27.88			$	14.40
Granted			—				—				—
Exercised			(45,814	)		$	5.92–6.44			$	6.29
Forfeited			(25,638	)		$	5.58–19.51			$	10.05
Balance March 31, 2006			10,001,768							$	14.44
Granted			—				—				—
Exercised			(7,219	)		$	5.92–6.44			$	6.28
Forfeited			(24,426	)		$	5.92–19.25			$	14.23
Balance June 30, 2006			9,970,123							$	14.44
Granted			431,050			$	9.40-9.40			$	9.40
Exercised			(1,000	)		$	5.92-5.92			$	5.92
Forfeited			(31,129	)		$	5.92-19.25			$	14.90
Balance September 30, 2006			10,369,044							$	14.23

     The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at September 30, 2006:

						Weighted
						Average				Weighted								Weighted
						Remaining				Average								Average
Range of		Outstanding as of				Contractual				Exercise				Exercisable as of				Exercise
Exercise Prices		September 30, 2006				Life				Price				September 30, 2006				Price
$2.79 - $5.58			73,377			4.2 years				$	3.94				73,377			$	3.94
$5.58 - $8.36			2,448,359			4.3 years				$	6.19				2,448,359			$	6.19
$8.36 - $11.15			459,050			9.5 years				$	9.38				30,000			$	9.14
$11.15 - 13.94			180,000			5.1 years				$	12.80				180,000			$	12.80
$13.94 - 16.73			4,406,968			4.8 years				$	14.35				4,078,935			$	14.37
$16.73 - 19.51			1,609,977			6.5 years				$	19.02				1,139,573			$	18.87
$19.51 - 22.30			171,994			1.8 years				$	20.67				171,994			$	20.67
$22.30 - 25.09			93,815			1.8 years				$	24.19				93,815			$	24.19
$25.09 – 27.88			925,504			2.9 years				$	27.88				925,504			$	27.88
			10,369,044			4.9 years				$	14.23				9,141,557			$	14.19

3. Non-Vested (Restricted) Stock Awards

On April 25, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted 145,000 restricted shares of its Class A Common Stock to certain officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer. The restricted shares were granted pursuant to the Cumulus Media Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, and are subject to the continued employment of the recipient for a specified period of time. Consistent with the terms of the awards, one-half of the shares granted will vest after two years of continuous employment. An additional one-eighth of the remaining restricted shares will vest each quarter during the third and fourth years following the date of grant. The fair value at the date of grant of these shares was $1.9 million. Stock compensation expense for these fixed awards will be recognized on a straight-line basis over each award’s vesting period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recognized $0.12 million and $0.36 million, respectively, of non-cash stock compensation expense related to these restricted shares. No tax benefit is recognized due to the Company’s net operating loss position.

On March 3, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted 110,000 restricted shares of its Class A Common Stock to certain officers, other than the Chief executive Officer. The restricted shares were granted pursuant to the Cumulus Media Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, and are subject to the continued employment of the recipient for a specified period of time. Consistent with the terms of the awards, one-half of the shares granted will vest after two years of continuous employment. An additional one-eighth of the remaining restricted shares will vest each quarter during the third and fourth years following the date of grant. The fair value at the date of grant of these shares was $1.3 million. Stock compensation expense for these fixed awards will be recognized on a straight-line basis over each award’s vesting period. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recognized $0.08 million and $0.18 million, respectively, of non-cash stock compensation expense related to these restricted shares.

On October 14, 2004, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lewis W. Dickey, Jr. This agreement provides that Mr. Dickey will be granted 250,000 restricted shares of Class A Common Stock in each of 2005, 2006 and 2007. The fair value on the effective grant date (October 14, 2004) of all of the restricted shares to be issued to Mr. Dickey, pursuant to his employment agreement, was $10.2 million.

In accordance with his agreement, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted 250,000 restricted shares to Mr. Dickey on each of April 25, 2005 and March 3, 2006. Following the initial award, management concluded that, in accordance with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, Mr. Dickey’s employment agreement created an effective grant date for accounting purposes as of the execution date of the agreement (October 14, 2004), for the restricted shares issued in April 2005, as well as the restricted shares the Company was obligated to award Mr. Dickey in 2006 and 2007. Non-cash stock compensation expense attributable to Mr. Dickey’s shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 totaled $0.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Consistent with terms of the awards and Mr. Dickey’s employment agreement, of the restricted shares issued to Mr. Dickey in April 2005 and March 2006, 125,000 shares from each award were granted as time-vested restricted shares and 125,000 from each award were issued as performance restricted shares. The time-vested restricted shares are subject to the continued employment of Mr. Dickey. One-half of the time-vested shares will vest after two years of continuous employment from the date of grant. An additional one-eighth of the remaining time-vested shares will vest each quarter during the third and fourth years following the date of grant.

Vesting of one-half of the performance restricted shares in each grant is dependent upon the achievement of certain board-approved financial targets for the first fiscal year following the date of grant and two years of continuous employment. Vesting of the remaining one-half of the performance restricted shares in each grant is dependent upon achievement of certain board approved financial targets for the second fiscal year following the date of grant and two years of continuous employment. Any performance restricted shares that do not vest based on the performance measures will vest on the eighth anniversary of the grant date, provided that Mr. Dickey has remained employed with the Company through that date.

Subsequent to December 31, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determined that the approved financial target for the first fiscal year following the date of grant and associated with one-half of the performance restricted shares granted in April 2005 was not achieved. As a result, those 62,500 shares converted to time-vested shares and will vest on the eighth anniversary of the grant date.

As of September 30, 2006, management believes it is probable that the remaining performance targets associated with Mr. Dickey’s performance restricted shares will be met in future years.

4. Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company accounts for derivative financial instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. This standard requires the Company to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivative value changes are recorded in income for any contracts not classified as qualifying hedging instruments. For derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedge instruments, the effective portion of the derivative fair value change must be recorded through Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, a component of stockholders’ equity.

In May 2005, Cumulus entered into a forward-starting LIBOR-based interest rate swap arrangement (the “May 2005 Swap”) to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from interest rate risk attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate of LIBOR. The May 2005 Swap, effective March 2006 through March 2009, changes the variable-rate cash flow exposure on the Company’s long-term bank borrowings to fixed-rate cash flows by entering into a receive-variable, pay-fixed interest rate swap. Under the May 2005 Swap, Cumulus receives LIBOR-based variable interest rate payments and makes fixed interest rate payments, thereby creating fixed-rate long-term debt. The May 2005 Swap is accounted for as a qualifying cash flow hedge of the future variable rate interest payments in accordance with SFAS No. 133, whereby changes in the fair market value are reflected as adjustments to the fair value of the derivative instrument as reflected on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

The fair value of the May 2005 Swap is determined periodically by obtaining quotations from the financial institution that is the counterparty to the Company’s swap arrangement. The fair value represents an estimate of the net amount that Cumulus would receive if the agreement was transferred to another party or cancelled as of the date of the valuation. Changes in the fair value of the May 2005 Swap are reported in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, or AOCI, which is an element of stockholders’ equity. These amounts subsequently are reclassified into interest expense as a yield adjustment in the same period in which the related interest on the floating-rate debt obligations affects earnings. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2006 reflects other long-term assets of $9.8 million to reflect the fair value of the May 2005 Swap.

In order to affect the lowest fixed rate under the May 2005 Swap, Cumulus also entered into an interest rate option agreement in May 2005 (the “May 2005 Option”), which provides that the counterparty to the May 2005 Swap, Bank of America, may unilaterally extend the period of the swap for two additional years, from March 2009 through March 2011. This option may only be exercised in March 2009. This instrument is not highly effective in mitigating the risks in cash flows, and therefore is deemed speculative and its changes in value are accounted for as a current element of operating results. Interest expense, including amortization of the initial May 2005 value, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes $1.0 million expense and $0.1 million gain, respectively, and the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2006 reflects other long-term liabilities of $1.5 million to reflect the fair value of the May 2005 Option.

5. Acquisitions and Dispositions

Pending Acquisitions

There were no pending acquisitions at September 30, 2006.

Completed Acquisitions

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company completed its acquisition of (i) two stations, WWXQ-FM and WXQW-FM, serving Huntsville, Alabama; and (ii) one station, KAYD-FM serving Beaumont, Texas. The total purchase price associated with these acquisitions was $5.5 million. The Company also completed an Asset Transfer Agreement where Cumulus transferred WNCV-FM plus $1.5 million cash to Star Broadcasting in exchange for WPGG-FM, both in the Fort Walton Beach, Florida market. These stations were primarily acquired as they complemented the Company’s station portfolio and increased both its state and regional coverage of the United States.

6. Investment in Affiliate

On October 31, 2005, the Company announced that, together with Bain Capital Partners, The Blackstone Group and Thomas H. Lee Partners, it had formed a new private partnership, Cumulus Media Partners, LLC (“CMP”). CMP is a private partnership created by the Company and the equity partners to acquire the radio broadcasting business of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co. Each of the Company and the equity partners holds a 25% equity ownership in CMP. Under the terms of the partnership arrangement, if certain performance targets are met, the Company’s participation in the distribution of assets from CMP may be increased to up to 40%, with the respective participations in such distributions by each equity partner reduced to as low as 20%.

On May 5, 2006, the Company announced that the acquisition of the radio broadcasting business of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co. by CMP was completed at a purchase price of approximately $1.2 billion. Susquehanna’s radio broadcasting business consisted of 33 radio stations in 8 markets: San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Indianapolis and York, Pennsylvania.

In connection with the formation of CMP, the Company contributed four radio stations (including related licenses and assets) in the Houston, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri markets and approximately $6.2 million in cash in exchange for its membership interests in CMP. The Company recognized a gain of $2.5 million from the transfer of assets to CMP. In addition, upon consummation of the acquisition, the Company received a payment of approximately $3.5 million as consideration for advisory services provided in connection with the acquisition. The payment was recorded by the Company as a reduction in Cumulus’s investment in CMP.

The Company’s investment in CMP will be accounted for under the equity method. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded approximately $1.0 million and $3.5 million, respectively, as equity in losses of affiliate. This amount is presented as part of nonoperating income (loss) on the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. For the period May through September 2006, during which time the Company had an equity investment in CMP, the affiliate generated revenues of $104.0 million, operating expense of $58.4 million and a net loss of $14.1 million.

Concurrently with the consummation of the acquisition, the Company entered into a management agreement with a subsidiary of CMP, pursuant to which the Company’s management will manage the operations of CMP’s subsidiaries. The agreement provides for the Company to receive, on a quarterly basis, a management fee that is expected to be approximately 1% of the subsidiaries’ annual EBITDA or $4.0 million, whichever is greater. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company recorded as net revenues approximately $1.0 million and $1.6 million in management fees from CMP.

7. Long-Term Debt

The Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 (dollars in thousands):

		September30,				December 31,
		2006				2005
Term loan and revolving credit facilities at 7.70% and 5.63%, respectively		$	767,875			$	569,000
Less: Current portion of long-term debt			(7,500	)			—
		$	760,375			$	569,000

On July 14, 2005, the Company entered into an $800 million credit facility, which provided for a seven-year $400.0 million revolving credit facility and a seven-year $400.0 million term loan facility. The proceeds of the term loan facility, fully funded on July 14, 2005, and drawings on that date of $123.0 million on the revolving credit facility, were used by the Company primarily to repay all amounts owed under its prior credit facility.

In connection with the retirement of the Company’s pre-existing credit facilities, in July 2005 the Company recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $1.2 million, which was comprised of previously capitalized loan origination fees. In connection with the 2005 credit facility, the Company capitalized approximately $4.3 million of debt issuance costs, which were amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.

On June 23, 2006, the Company announced the completion of a tender offer for 11.5 million outstanding shares of its Class A Common Stock. In connection with the tender offer, the Company also agreed to repurchase 5.0 million shares of its outstanding Class B Common Stock (see note 8).

In connection with the pending tender offer and common stock repurchase, on June 7, 2006, the Company entered into a new $850 million credit facility, which provides for a $100.0 million six-year revolving credit facility and a seven-year $750.0 million term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $750.0 million. The proceeds were used by the Company to repay all amounts outstanding under its 2005 credit facility (approximately $588.2 million) and to purchase the 11.5 million shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and 5.0 million shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock, which occurred on June 23, 2006 and June 29, 2006, respectively, and to pay fees and expenses related to the foregoing. The remaining proceeds are expected to be used to provide ongoing working capital (which may, in the future, include the funding of future acquisitions of radio stations) and for other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures. As of September 30, 2006, there was $19.8 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility.

The new credit facility also provides for additional, incremental revolving credit or term loan facilities in an aggregate principal amount of up to an additional $200.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and upon the company providing notice prior to June 30, 2009. These incremental credit facilities are permitted from time to time, and may be used to fund future acquisitions of radio stations and for other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures. Any incremental credit facilities will be secured and guaranteed on the same basis as the term loan and revolving credit facility.

The Company’s obligations under the new credit facility are collateralized by substantially all of its assets in which a security interest may lawfully be granted (including FCC licenses held by its subsidiaries), including, without limitation, intellectual property and all of the capital stock of the Company’s direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (except for Broadcast Software International, Inc.) and 65% of the capital stock of certain first-tier foreign subsidiaries. In addition, the Company’s obligations under the credit facility are guaranteed by certain of its subsidiaries.

The term loan facility will mature on June 7, 2013 and amortizes in equal quarterly installments beginning on September 30, 2006, with 0.25% of the initial aggregate advances payable each quarter during the first six years of the term, and 23.5% due in each quarter during the seventh year. The revolving credit facility will mature on June 7, 2012 and, except at the option of the Company, the commitment will remain unchanged up to that date.

Borrowings under the term loan facility bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 2.0% or the Alternate Base Rate (defined as the higher of the Bank of America Prime Rate and the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%) plus 1.0%. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin ranging between 0.675% and 2.0% or the Alternate Base Rate plus a margin ranging between 0.0% and 1.0% (in either case dependent upon the Company’s leverage ratio).

As of September 30, 2006, the effective interest rate of the outstanding borrowings pursuant to the credit facility was approximately 7.70%.

Certain mandatory prepayments of the term loan facility would be required upon the occurrence of specified events, including upon the incurrence of certain additional indebtedness (other than under any incremental credit facilities) and upon the sale of certain assets.

Under the terms of the credit agreement governing the credit facility, the Company is subject to certain restrictive financial and operating covenants, including, but not limited to maximum leverage covenants, minimum interest coverage covenants, limitations on capital expenditures, asset dispositions and the payment of dividends. The failure to comply with the covenants would result in an event of default, which in turn would permit acceleration of debt under the credit facility. At September 30, 2006, the Company was in compliance with such financial and operating covenants.

The terms of the credit agreement contain events of default after expiration of applicable grace periods, including failure to make payments on the credit facility, breach of covenants, breach of representations and warranties, invalidity of the credit agreement and related documents, cross default under other agreements or conditions relating to indebtedness of the Company or the Company’s restricted subsidiaries, certain events of liquidation, moratorium, insolvency, bankruptcy or similar events, enforcement of security, certain litigation or other proceedings, and certain events relating to changes in control. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the terms of the credit agreement, the majority of the lenders are able to declare all amounts under the credit facility to be due and payable and take certain other actions, including enforcement of rights in respect of the collateral. The majority of the banks extending credit under each term loan facility and the majority of the banks under each revolving credit facility may terminate such term loan facility and such revolving credit facility, respectively, upon an event of default.

In connection with the retirement of the Company’s pre-existing credit facilities, in June 2006 the Company recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $2.3 million, which was comprised of previously capitalized loan origination expenses. In connection with the new credit facility, the Company capitalized approximately $1.6 million of debt issuance costs, which will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.

8. Share Repurchases

On September 28, 2004, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to $100.0 million of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, subject to the terms of the Company’s then-existing credit agreement. Subsequently, on December 7, 2005, the Company announced that its Board had authorized the purchase of up to an additional $100.0 million of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. Cumulatively, at September 30, 2006, the Company repurchased 11,531,652 shares, or $143.0 million in aggregate value, of its Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Board approved stock repurchase plans. The Company has authority to repurchase an additional approximately $57.0 million of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, although the current terms of the credit agreement would limit the Company to approximately $2.0 million in additional purchases.

In addition, during June, 2006, as part of a separate $200.0 million Board-approved recapitalization, the Company completed a “modified Dutch Auction” tender offer and purchased 11.5 million shares of its outstanding Class A Common Stock at a price per share of $11.50, or approximately $132.3 million. The shares purchased represented approximately 24.1% of the Company’s outstanding Class A Common Stock at the time. The Company also purchased 5.0 million shares of Class B Common Stock at a purchase price of $11.50 per share or approximately $57.5 million. The shares purchased represented approximately 43.0% of the Company’s outstanding Class B Common Stock. These Class B Common shares were subsequently retired. During the three months ended September 30, 2006, the Company purchased an additional 749,500 shares of its outstanding Class A Common Stock at an average price per share of $9.25, or approximately $6.9 million.

Cumulatively, during 2006, the Company repurchased 14,261,000 shares of its outstanding Class A Common Stock at an average price per share of $11.56, or approximately $164.9 million and 5,000,000 shares of its outstanding Class B Common Stock at an average price per share of $11.50, or approximately $57.5 million .

9. Earnings Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income per share for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands, except per share data).

		Three Months				Three Months				Nine Months				Nine Months
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Ended
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005				September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005
Numerator:
Net income		$	1,269			$	9,132			$	6,821			$	4,981
Denominator:
Denominator for basic income per common share:
Weighted average common shares outstanding			42,623				66,228				53,655				68,137
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options			940				1,328				1,137				1,404
Restricted shares			158				127				183				163
Shares applicable to diluted income per common share			43,721				67,683				54,975				69,704
Basic income per common share		$	0.03			$	0.14			$	0.13			$	0.07
Diluted income per common share		$	0.03			$	0.13			$	0.12			$	0.07

The Company has issued to key executives and employees restricted stock and options to purchase shares of common stock as part of the Company’s stock incentive plans. At September 30, 2006 and 2005, the following restricted stock and options to purchase common stock were issued and outstanding:

		September 30,				September 30,
		2006				2005
Restricted shares of Class A Common Stock			1,005,000				395,000
Options to purchase Class A Common Stock			8,868,354				8,691,530
Options to purchase Class C Common Stock			1,500,690				1,500,690

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, 7,388,258 and 7,388,258 options, respectively, were not included in the calculation of weighted average diluted common shares outstanding because the exercise price of the options exceeded the average share price for the period and their effect would be antidilutive. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, 7,525,797 and 7,371,797 options, respectively, were not included in the calculation of weighted average diluted common shares outstanding as their effect would also be antidilutive.

10. Comprehensive Income

SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, establishes standards for reporting comprehensive income. Comprehensive income includes net income as currently reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and also considers the effect of additional economic events that are not required to be reported in determining net income, but rather are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The Company reports changes in the fair value of derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges as components of comprehensive income. The components of comprehensive income are as follows (dollars in thousands):

		Three Months				Three Months				Nine Months				Nine Months
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Ended
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005				September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005
Net income		$	1,269			$	9,132			$	6,821			$	4,981
Change in the fair value of derivative instruments			(5,816	)			5,812				(283	)			3,665
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	(4,547	)		$	14,944			$	6,538			$	8,646

11. Commitments and Contingencies

The contract with Katz, as describe in Note 1, contains termination provisions that, if exercised by the Company during the term of the contract, would obligate the Company to pay a termination fee to Katz, calculated based upon a formula set forth in the contract.

The radio broadcast industry’s principal ratings service is Arbitron, which publishes periodic ratings surveys for domestic radio markets. The Company has a five-year agreement with Arbitron under which the Company receives programming ratings materials in a majority of its markets. The Company’s remaining obligation under the agreement with Arbitron totals approximately $20.3 million as of September 30, 2006, and will be paid in accordance with the agreement through July 2009.

In December 2004, the Company purchased 240 perpetual licenses from iBiquity Digital Corporation, which will enable the Company to convert to and utilize HD Radio(TM) technology on 240 of the Company’s stations. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company committed to convert the 240 stations over a seven-year period beginning in the second half of 2005. The conversion of stations to the HD Radio™ technology will require an investment in certain capital equipment over the next five years. Management estimates its investment will be approximately $0.13 million per station converted.

The Company has been subpoenaed by the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York, along with other radio broadcasting companies, in connection with the New York Attorney General’s investigation of promotional practices related to record companies’ dealings with radio stations broadcasting in New York. The Company is cooperating with the Attorney General in this investigation.

The Company is also a defendant from time to time in various other lawsuits, which are generally incidental to its business. The Company is vigorously contesting all matters and believes that their ultimate resolution will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company is not a party to any lawsuit or proceeding, which, in management’s opinion, is likely to have a material adverse effect.

12. Variable Interest Entities and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At September 30, 2006, the Company operated one station under a local marketing agreement (“LMA”). The condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes the revenue and broadcast operating expenses of this radio station and any related fees associated with the LMA from the effective date of the LMA through September 30, 2006.

Current FCC and antitrust regulatory requirements limit the number of stations a broadcaster may own in a given local market. In order to comply with all applicable regulations, during the three months ended June 30, 2006, the Company entered into a trust agreement to place station KMAJ-AM into a trust (the “KMAJ Trust”) that comports with FCC rules and policies and thereby reduces the number of attributable ownership interests which the Company has in radio stations in the Topeka, Kansas Arbitron Metropolitan area.

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the trust agreement, the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the KMAJ Trust and will absorb a majority of the trust’s expected returns. As a result, in accordance with the guidance provided by Financial Interpretation No. 46 (revised), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, the Company has included the accounts of the KMAJ Trust in its condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2006.

As of September 30, 2006, the Company had no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

13. Current Period Related Party Transactions

A member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Eric Robison, has entered into a contract with the Company to provide various consulting services to the Company in connection with identifying and pursuing possible business development opportunities. This contract is in the initial stages and the costs incurred through September 30, 2006 are minimal. In conjunction with this contract, the Director resigned as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

The following discussion of our condensed consolidated financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this quarterly report. This discussion, as well as various other sections of this quarterly report, contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements relate to the intent, belief or current expectations of our officers primarily with respect to our future operating performance. Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and may involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Risks and uncertainties that may effect forward-looking statements in this document include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to leverage, the need for additional funds, FCC and government approval of pending acquisitions, our inability to renew one or more of our broadcast licenses, changes in interest rates, consummation of our pending acquisitions, integration of acquisitions, our ability to eliminate certain costs, the management of rapid growth, the popularity of radio as a broadcasting and advertising medium, changing consumer tastes, the impact of general economic conditions in the United States or in specific markets in which we currently do business, industry conditions, including existing competition and future competitive technologies and cancellation, disruptions or postponements of advertising schedules in response to national or world events. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond our control. This discussion identifies important factors that could cause such differences. The unexpected occurrence of any such factors would significantly alter the results set forth in these statements.

Overview

We engage in the acquisition, operation, and development of commercial radio stations in mid-size radio markets in the United States. In addition, we, along with three private equity firms, formed Cumulus Media Partners, LLC (“CMP”), which acquired the radio broadcasting business of Susquehanna Pfaltzgraff Co. (“Susquehanna”) in May 2006. The acquisition included 33 radio stations in 8 markets. As a result of our investment in CMP and the acquisition of Susquehanna’s radio operations, we are the second largest radio broadcasting company in the United States based on number of stations and believe we are the third largest radio broadcasting company based on net revenues. As of September 30, 2006, directly and through our investment in CMP, we owned and operated 345 stations in 67 U.S. markets and provided sales and marketing services under local marketing, management and consulting agreements (pending FCC approval of acquisition) to one station in a U.S. market. The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations includes the results of acquisitions and local marketing, management and consulting agreements.

Advertising Revenue and Station Operating Income

Our primary source of revenue is the sale of advertising time on our radio stations. Our sales of advertising time are primarily affected by the demand for advertising time from local, regional and national advertisers and the advertising rates charged by our radio stations. Advertising demand and rates are based primarily on a station’s ability to attract audiences in the demographic groups targeted by its advertisers, as measured principally by Arbitron on a periodic basis-generally one, two or four times per year. Because audience ratings in local markets are crucial to a station’s financial success, we endeavor to develop strong listener loyalty. We believe that the diversification of formats on our stations helps to insulate them from the effects of changes in the musical tastes of the public with respect to any particular format.

The number of advertisements that can be broadcast without jeopardizing listening levels and the resulting rating is limited in part by the format of a particular station. Our stations strive to maximize revenue by continually managing the number of commercials available for sale and adjusting prices based upon local market conditions. In the broadcasting industry, radio stations sometimes utilize trade or barter agreements that exchange advertising time for goods or services such as travel or lodging, instead of for cash.

Our advertising contracts are generally short-term. We generate most of our revenue from local advertising, which is sold primarily by a station’s sales staff. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, approximately 89% of our revenues were from local advertising. We generate national advertising revenue with the assistance of an outside national representation firm. During the second quarter of 2005, we terminated our existing contract with Interep National Radio Sales, Inc. and engaged Katz Media Group, Inc. (“Katz”) to represent the Company as its national advertising sales agent. Our decision to change national representation firms was primarily driven by a developing downward trend in national advertising revenue growth. While we believe that national advertising revenue has softened throughout much of the radio industry in recent periods, thus contributing to the downturn, we believe that Katz has the experience and resources to improve the performance of this particular source of revenue for the Company.

Our revenues vary throughout the year. As is typical in the radio broadcasting industry, we expect our first calendar quarter will produce the lowest revenues for the year, and the fourth calendar quarter will generally produce the highest revenues for the year, with the exception of certain of our stations such as those in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the stations generally earn higher revenues in the second and third quarters of the year because of the higher seasonal population in those communities.

Our operating results in any period may be affected by the incurrence of advertising and promotion expenses that typically do not have an effect on revenue generation until future periods, if at all. Our most significant station operating expenses are employee salaries and commissions, programming expenses, advertising and promotional expenditures, technical expenses, and general and administrative expenses. We strive to control these expenses by working closely with local station management. The performance of radio station groups, such as ours, is customarily measured by the ability to generate Station Operating Income. See the definition of this non-GAAP measure, including a description of the reasons for its presentation, as well as a quantitative reconciliation to its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, below.

Results of Operations

Analysis of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following analysis of selected data from our condensed consolidated statements of operations and other supplementary data should be referred to while reading the results of operations discussion that follows:

		For the Three				For the Three
		Months Ended				Months Ended				Percent Change
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005				2006 vs. 2005
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net revenues		$	83,951			$	85,326				(1.6	)%
Station operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and LMA fees			51,877				52,891				(1.9	)%
Depreciation and amortization			4,236				5,464				(22.5	)%
LMA fees			400				174				129.9	%
Corporate general and administrative (excluding non-cash stock compensation expense)			3,381				3,615				(6.5	)%
Non-cash stock compensation			3,696				774				377.5	%
Operating income			20,361				22,408				(9.1	)%
Interest expense, net			(14,238	)			(5,515	)			158.2	%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			—				(1,192	)			*	*
Other income (expense), net			(117	)			451				(125.9	)%
Income tax expense			(3,696	)			(7,020	)			(47.4	)%
Equity in losses of affiliate			(1,041	)			—				*	*
Net income		$	1,269			$	9,132				(86.1	)%
OTHER DATA:
Station Operating Income (1)		$	32,074			$	32,435				(1.1	)%
Station Operating Income Margin (2)			38.2	%			38.0	%

		For the Nine				For the Nine
		Months Ended				Months Ended				Percent Change
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005				2006 vs. 2005
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net revenues		$	246,562			$	244,889				0.7	%
Station operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and LMA fees (including non-cash contract termination costs of $0 and $13,571, respectively)			160,608				171,695				(6.5	)%
Depreciation and amortization			13,562				16,277				(16.7	)%
Gain on assets transferred to affiliate			(2,548	)			—					**
LMA fees			797				720				10.7	%
Corporate general and administrative (excluding non-cash stock compensation expense)			12,080				11,209				7.8	%
Non-cash stock compensation			10,765				2,442				340.8	%
Restructuring credits			—				(215	)				**
Operating income			51,298				42,761				20.0	%
Interest expense, net			(29,664	)			(16,517	)			79.6	%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(2,284	)			(1,192	)			91.6	%
Other income, net			45				429				(89.5	)%
Income tax expense			(9,046	)			(20,500	)			(55.9	)%
Equity in losses of affiliate			(3,528	)			—					**
Net income		$	6,821			$	4,981				36.9	%
OTHER DATA:
Station operating income (1)		$	85,954			$	86,765				(0.9	)%
Station operating income margin (2)			34.9	%			35.4	%
Cash flows related to:
Operating activities		$	44,245			$	59,537				(25.7	)%
Investing activities		$	(17,951	)		$	(91,042	)			(80.3	)%
Financing activities		$	(24,721	)		$	7,734				(419.6	)%
Capital expenditures		$	(8,165	)		$	(6,901	)			18.3	%

Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 Versus the Three Months Ended September 30, 2005.

Net Revenues. Net revenues decreased $1.3 million, or 1.6%, to $84.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $85.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily the result of the contribution of our Houston and Kansas City stations to our affiliate, Cumulus Media Partners, LLC (“CMP”) on May 3, 2006, and the resulting loss of the revenue streams from those stations, offset by $1.0 million in management fees from CMP and organic growth over our existing station platform.

Station Operating Expenses, Excluding Depreciation, Amortization and LMA Fees. Station operating expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and LMA fees, decreased $1.0 million, or 1.9%, to $51.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $52.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily attributable to the contribution of our Houston and Kansas City stations to CMP, on May 3, 2006, (relieving us of the expenses associated with operating those stations) partially offset by general expense increases across our station platform.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased $1.2 million, or 22.5%, to $4.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily attributable to previously recorded assets becoming fully depreciated and assets having been transferred to CMP, in each case subsequent to the three-month period ended September 30, 2005.

LMA Fees. LMA fees totaled $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, versus $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. LMA fees in the current year were comprised primarily of fees associated with stations operated under LMAs in Beaumont, Texas and Vinton, Iowa, and a station operated under a joint services agreement in Nashville, Tennessee.

Corporate, General and Administrative Expenses. Corporate, general and administrative expenses totaled $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $3.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005, primarily the result of reduced professional fees partially offset by increased personnel costs associated with the management of CMP.

Non-Cash Stock Compensation. Non-cash stock compensation expense increased to $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $0.8 million of non-cash stock compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This increase is primarily due to the effect of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) effective January 1, 2006, as required under GAAP.

With regard to the non-cash stock compensation expense attributable to Mr. Dickey, following the award of shares in April 2005 management concluded that, in accordance with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, Mr. Dickey’s employment agreement created an effective grant date for accounting purposes as of the execution date of the agreement, for both the restricted shares issued in April 2005 and March 2006 as well as the restricted shares to be issued in 2007. As a result, management believes it should have commenced amortizing non-cash stock compensation expense associated with the restricted shares contemplated by Mr. Dickey’s employment agreement beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004. Management assessed the materiality of non-cash stock compensation expense attributable to 2004 and the first and second quarter of 2005 and concluded that due to the immateriality of the charges and the insignificant impact on the financial statements taken as a whole, no restatement of prior periods was necessary. As a result, management recorded the expense attributable to Mr. Dickey’s restricted shares for 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, together with amounts attributable to the second quarter of 2005, during the three months ended June 30, 2005. Non-cash stock compensation attributable to 2004 and the first and second quarter of 2005 totaled $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Non-cash stock compensation expense attributable to Mr. Dickey’s restricted shares for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 totaled $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Nonoperating Income (Expense). Interest expense, net of interest income, increased by $8.7 million, or 158.2%, to $14.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $5.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to higher effective interest rates on the portion of debt subject to variable rates. There was also an increase in the average level of borrowing over the prior year. The following summary details the components of our interest expense, net of interest income (dollars in thousands):

		Three Months				Three Months
		Ended				Ended				Increase/
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005				(Decrease)
Bank Borrowings — term loan and revolving credit facilities		$	14,717			$	6,709			$	8,008
Bank Borrowings yield adjustment — interest rate swap arrangement			(1,389	)			(1,149	)			(240	)
Change in fair value of interest rate option agreement			741				(346	)			1,087
Other interest expense			408				464				(56	)
Interest income			(239	)			(163	)			(76	)
Interest expense, net		$	14,238			$	5,515			$	8,723

Income Taxes. Income tax expense decreased $3.3 million to $3.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to income tax expense of $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease is primarily due to recording a benefit of approximately $2.5 million relating to the overall reduction of our effective state tax rate and a state income tax rate reduction. Tax expense in the current and prior year is comprised primarily of deferred tax expense and relates to the establishment of valuation allowances against net operating loss carry-forwards generated during the periods. Commencing January 1, 2006, we are using the annual effective rate method in determining our quarterly income tax expense; previously we used the discrete method.

Equity in Loss of Affiliate. As previously described, we acquired a 25% equity position in CMP during May 2006. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, we absorbed approximately $1.0 million in losses generated by CMP.

Station Operating Income. As a result of the factors described above, station operating income decreased $0.3 million, or 1.1%, to $32.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $32.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.

Station operating income consists of operating income before non-cash contract termination costs, gain on assets transferred to affiliate, depreciation and amortization, LMA fees, corporate general and administrative expenses, non-cash stock compensation, restructuring credits and impairment charges. Station operating income isolates the amount of income generated solely by our stations and assists our management in evaluating the earnings potential of our station portfolio. In deriving this measure, we exclude non-cash contract termination costs as the charge will never represent a cash obligation to our station operations. Gain on transfer of assets is excluded, as no cash was received nor is any cash anticipated to be received for these transfers. We exclude depreciation and amortization due to the insignificant investment in tangible assets required to operate our stations and the relatively insignificant amount of intangible assets subject to amortization. We exclude LMA fees from this measure, even though it requires a cash commitment, due to the insignificance and temporary nature of such fees. Corporate expenses, despite representing an additional significant cash commitment, are excluded in an effort to present the operating performance of our stations exclusive of the corporate resources employed. We believe this is important to our investors because it highlights the gross margin generated by our station portfolio. Finally, we exclude non-cash stock compensation, restructuring credits and impairment charges from the measure as they do not represent cash payments related to the operation of the stations.

We believe that station operating income is the most frequently used financial measure in determining the market value of a radio station or group of stations. We have observed that station operating income is commonly employed by firms that provide appraisal services to the broadcasting industry in valuing radio stations. Further, in each of the more than 140 radio station acquisitions we have completed since our inception, we have used station operating income as our primary metric to evaluate and negotiate the purchase price to be paid. Given its relevance to the estimated value of a radio station, we believe, and our experience indicates, that investors consider the measure to be useful in order to determine the value of our portfolio of stations. We believe that station operating income is the most commonly used financial measure employed by the investment community to compare the performance of radio station operators. Finally, station operating income is the primary measure that our management uses to evaluate the performance and results of our stations. Our management uses the measure to assess the performance of our station managers and our Board of Directors uses it to determine the relative performance of our executive management. As a result, in disclosing station operating income, we are providing our investors with an analysis of our performance that is consistent with that which will be utilized by our management and our Board.

Station operating income is not a recognized term under GAAP and does not purport to be an alternative to operating income from continuing operations as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Additionally, station operating income is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow available for dividends, reinvestment in our business or other Company discretionary use, as it does not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and debt service requirements. Station operating income should be viewed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, results of operations presented on the basis of GAAP. We compensate for the limitations of using station operating income by using it only to supplement our GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business than GAAP results alone. Station operating income has its limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Moreover, because not all companies use identical calculations, these presentations of station operating income may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure. The following table reconciles station operating income to operating income as presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations (the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP) (dollars in thousands):

		Three Months Ended
		September 30,
		2006				2005
Operating income		$	20,361			$	22,408
LMA fees			400				174
Depreciation and amortization			4,236				5,464
Corporate general and administrative (including non-cash stock compensation expense)			7,077				4,389
Station operating income		$	32,074			$	32,435

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 versus the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005.

Net Revenues. Net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 increased $1.7 million to $246.6 million, a 0.7% increase compared to the same period in 2005, primarily as a result of organic growth over our existing station platform and $1.6 million in management fees from CMP partially offset by the contribution of our Houston and Kansas City stations to CMP on May 3, 2006.

Station Operating Expenses, Excluding Depreciation, Amortization and LMA Fees (including non-cash contract termination costs). Station operating expenses in the first nine months of 2006 decreased $11.1 million to $160.6 million, a decrease of 6.5% over the same period in 2005. Excluding the $13.6 million non-cash contract termination charge included in 2005, the increase is attributable to general expense increases across our station platform offset by the contribution of our Houston and Kansas City stations to CMP.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization decreased $2.7 million, or 16.7%, to $13.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. This decrease was primarily attributable to previously recorded assets being fully depreciated and assets transferred to CMP, in each case subsequent to the nine month period ended September 30, 2006.

LMA Fees. LMA fees totaled $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. LMA fees in the current year were comprised primarily of fees associated with LMA agreements in Beaumont, Texas and Vinton, Iowa, and a station operated under a joint services agreement in Nashville, Tennessee.

Corporate, General and Administrative Expenses. Corporate, general and administrative expenses totaled $12.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $11.2 million for the same period in the prior year. This increase is primarily due to increased compensation expense associated with the management of CMP.

Non-Cash Stock Compensation. Non-cash stock compensation expense increased to $10.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $2.4 million of non-cash stock compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase is primarily due to the effect of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) effective January 1,2006, as required under GAAP.

With regard to the non-cash stock compensation expense attributable to Mr. Dickey, following the award of shares in April 2005, management concluded that, in accordance with SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, Mr. Dickey’s employment agreement created an effective grant date for accounting purposes as of the execution date of the agreement, for both the restricted shares issued in April 2005 as well as the restricted shares to be issued in 2006 and 2007. As a result, management believes it should have commenced amortizing non-cash stock compensation expense associated with the restricted shares contemplated by Mr. Dickey’s employment agreement beginning in the fourth quarter of 2004. Management assessed the materiality of non-cash stock compensation expense attributable to 2004 and the first and second quarter of 2005 and concluded that due to the immateriality of the charges and the insignificant impact on the financial statements taken as a whole, no restatement of prior periods was necessary. As a result, management recorded the expense attributable to Mr. Dickey’s restricted shares for 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, together with amounts attributable to the second quarter of 2005, during the three months ended June 30, 2005. Non-cash stock compensation attributable to Mr. Dickey’s restricted shares for the first nine months of 2005 totaled $1.8 million. Non-cash stock compensation expense attributable to Mr. Dickey’s restricted shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 totaled $1.6 million.

Nonoperating Income (Expense). Interest expense, net of interest income, increased by $13.2 million, or 79.6%, to $29.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $16.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase was primarily due to a higher average cost of bank debt and increased levels of bank debt outstanding during the current year, principally the result of the stock repurchase program, offset by benefit attributable to the Company’s interest rate swap arrangement. The following summary details the components of our interest expense, net of interest income (dollars in thousands):

		Nine Months Ended				Nine Months Ended				Increase/
		September 30, 2006				September 30, 2005				(Decrease)
Bank Borrowings — term loan and revolving credit facilities		$	32,768			$	18,155			$	14,613
Bank Borrowings yield adjustment — interest rate swap arrangement			(3,885	)			(2,330	)			(1,555	)
Change in fair value of interest rate option agreement			(796	)			357				(1,153	)
Other interest expense			2,119				1,292				827
Interest income			(542	)			(957	)			415
Interest expense, net		$	29,664			$	16,517			$	13,147

Income Taxes. Income tax expense decreased $11.5 million to $9.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to income tax expense of $20.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease includes a benefit of approximately $3.2 million relating to the overall reduction of our effective state tax rate and reductions in state income tax rates. Tax expense in the current and prior year is comprised primarily of deferred tax expense and relates to the establishment of valuation allowances against net operating loss carry-forwards generated during the periods. Commencing January 1, 2006, we are using the annual effective rate method in determining our quarterly income tax expense; previously we used the discrete method.

Equity in Loss of Affiliate. As previously described, we acquired a 25% equity position in CMP in May 2006. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we absorbed approximately $3.5 million in losses generated by CMP.

Station Operating Income. As a result of the factors described above, station operating income decreased $0.8 million, or 0.9%, to $86.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $86.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Station operating income consists of operating income before non-cash contract termination costs, gain on asset transfers to an affiliate, depreciation and amortization, LMA fees, corporate general and administrative expenses, non-cash stock compensation expense, restructuring credits and impairment charges. Station operating income isolates the amount of income generated solely by our stations and assists our management in evaluating the earnings potential of our station portfolio. In deriving this measure, we exclude non-cash contract termination costs as the charge will never represent a cash obligation to our station operations. Gain on transfers of assets to affiliates is excluded, as no cash was received nor is any cash anticipated to be received for these transfers. We exclude depreciation and amortization due to the insignificant investment in tangible assets required to operate our stations and the relatively insignificant amount of intangible assets subject to amortization. We exclude LMA fees from this measure, even though it requires a cash commitment, due to the insignificance and temporary nature of such fees. Corporate, expenses, despite representing an additional significant cash commitment, are excluded in an effort to present the operating performance of our stations exclusive of the corporate resources employed. We believe this is important to our investors because it highlights the gross margin generated by our station portfolio. Finally, we exclude non-cash stock compensation, restructuring charges (credits) and impairment charges from the measure as they do not represent cash payments related to the operation of the stations.

We believe that station operating income is the most frequently used financial measure in determining the market value of a radio station or group of stations. We have observed that station operating income is commonly employed by firms that provide appraisal services to the broadcasting industry in valuing radio stations. Further, in each of the more than 140 radio station acquisitions we have completed since our inception, we have used station operating income as our primary metric to evaluate and negotiate the purchase price to be paid. Given its relevance to the estimated value of a radio station, we believe, and our experience indicates, that investors consider the measure to be useful in order to determine the value of our portfolio of stations. We believe that station operating income is the most commonly used financial measure employed by the investment community to compare the performance of radio station operators. Finally, station operating income is the primary measure that our management uses to evaluate the performance and results of our stations. Our management uses the measure to assess the performance of our station managers and our Board of Directors uses it to determine the relative performance of our executive management. As a result, in disclosing station operating income, we are providing our investors with an analysis of our performance that is consistent with that which will be utilized by our management and our Board.

Station operating income is not a recognized term under GAAP and does not purport to be an alternative to operating income from continuing operations as a measure of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Additionally, station operating income is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow available for dividends, reinvestment in our business or other Company discretionary use, as it does not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and debt service requirements. Station operating income should be viewed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, results of operations presented on the basis of GAAP. We compensate for the limitations of using station operating income by using it only to supplement our GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business than GAAP results alone. Station operating income has its limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Moreover, because not all companies use identical calculations, these presentations of station operating income may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure. The following table reconciles station operating income to operating income as presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations (the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP) (dollars in thousands):

		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2006				2005
Operating income		$	51,298			$	42,761
Gain on assets transferred to affiliate			(2,548	)			—
LMA fees			797				720
Depreciation and amortization			13,562				16,277
Corporate general and administrative (including non-cash contract termination costs, non-cash stock compensation expense, restructuring credits and impairment charges)			22,845				27,007
Station operating income		$	85,954			$	86,765

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal needs for funds have been to fund the acquisition of radio stations and, to a lesser extent, working capital needs, capital expenditures, and interest and debt service payments. Our principal sources of funds for these requirements have been cash flows from financing activities, such as the proceeds from offerings of our debt and equity securities and borrowings under credit facilities, and cash flows from operations. Our principal needs for funds in the future are expected to include the need to fund potential future acquisitions, interest and debt service payments, working capital needs and capital expenditures. We believe that our presently projected cash flow from operations and present financing arrangements, including availability under our existing credit facilities, or borrowings that would be available from future financing arrangements, will be sufficient to meet our future capital needs for the next 12 months, including the funding of pending acquisitions, operations and debt service. However, our cash flows from operations is subject to such factors as shifts in population, station listenership, demographics, audience tastes and fluctuations in preferred advertising media and borrowings under financing arrangements are subject to financial covenants that can restrict our financial flexibility. Further, our ability to obtain additional equity or debt financing is also subject to market conditions and operating performance. As such, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such financing at terms, and on the timetable, that may be necessary to meet our future capital needs.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net cash provided by operating activities decreased $15.3 million to $44.2 million from net cash provided by operating activities of $59.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The prior year included a non-cash contract termination cost of $13.2 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net cash used in investing activities decreased $73.0 million to $18.0 million from net cash used in investing activities of $91.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily attributable to the absence, in the current-year period, of acquisitions and the purchases of intangible assets. We completed acquisitions of broadcast licenses during the prior-year period (see “Historical Acquisitions” below) and funded these acquisitions entirely in cash.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net cash used in financing activities totaled $24.7 million compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $7.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Net cash used during the current period was due to the repurchase of 14.3 million shares of Class A Common Stock and 5.0 million shares of Class B Common Stock offset by an increase in borrowings under a new credit facility to fund this repurchase.

Historical Acquisitions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, we completed three acquisitions of ten radio stations across four markets and the acquisition of a studio facility, for an aggregate purchase price of $47.8 million. Of the $47.8 million required to fund the acquisitions, $47.4 million was funded in cash and $0.4 million represented capitalizable acquisition costs.

Pending Acquisitions. There were no pending acquisitions at September 30, 2006.

Completed Acquisitions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company completed its acquisition of two stations, WWXQ-FM and WXQW-FM, serving Huntsville, Alabama, and one station, KAYD-FM serving Beaumont, Texas. In connection with these acquisitions, we paid $5.5 million in cash. We completed a transfer of a station in the Fort Walton Beach, Florida market plus $1.5 million in cash in exchange for another station. These stations were primarily acquired to complement our station portfolio and increased both our state and regional coverage of the United States.

Cumulus Media Partners. On October 31, 2005, we announced that, together with three private equity firms, we had formed a new private partnership, CMP, which had entered into agreements to acquire the radio broadcasting business of Susquehanna. Each of the Company and the equity partners holds a 25% equity ownership in CMP. Under the terms of the CMP LLC agreement, if certain performance targets are met, our participation in the distribution of assets from CMP may be increased to up to 40%, with the respective participations in such distributions by each equity partner reduced to as low as 20%.

On May 5, 2006, we announced that the acquisition of the radio broadcasting business of Susquehanna by CMP was completed at a purchase price of approximately $1.2 billion. Susquehanna’s radio broadcasting business consisted of 33 radio stations in 8 markets: San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Indianapolis and York, Pennsylvania.

In connection with the formation of CMP, we contributed four radio stations (including related licenses and assets) in the Houston, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri, markets and approximately $6.2 million in cash in exchange for our membership interest in CMP. We recognized a gain of $2.5 million from the transfer of assets to CMP. In addition, upon consummation of the acquisition, we received a payment of approximately $3.5 million as consideration for advisory services provided in connection with the acquisition. We recorded the payment as a reduction in our investment in CMP.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recorded approximately $1.0 and $3.5 million, respectively, as equity in loss of affiliate. This amount is presented as part of nonoperating income (loss) on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, CMP generated revenues of $104.0 million, expenses of $58.5 million and a net loss of $14.1 million.

Concurrently with the consummation of the acquisition, we entered into a management agreement with a subsidiary of CMP, pursuant to which our management will manage the operations of CMP’s subsidiaries. Pursuant to the agreement we receive a management fee that is expected to be approximately 1% of the subsidiaries’ annual EBITDA or $4.0 million, whichever is greater. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recorded as net revenues approximately $1.0 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in management fees pursuant to the agreement.

Sources of Liquidity. As of September 30, 2006, we had $767.9 million outstanding under our credit facility, comprised of $748.1 million of term loan facility borrowings and $19.8 million of revolving credit facility borrowings. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, there was a scheduled principal payment on the term loan facilities of $1.9 million. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we drew down $0.0 million and $50.8 million, respectively, under our revolving credit facility and made repayments of $10.0 million and $24.0 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2006, we had approximately $80.0 million of availability under our revolving credit facility.

On June 23, 2006, we completed a self-tender offer for 11.5 million shares of our outstanding Class A Common Stock and on June 29, 2006, we repurchased 5.0 million shares of our outstanding Class B Common Stock. In connection with the tender offer and repurchase, on June 7, 2006, we entered into a new $850 million credit facility, which provides for a $100.0 million six-year revolving credit facility and a seven-year $750.0 million term loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of $750.0 million. We used the proceeds to repay all amounts outstanding under our existing credit facility (approximately $588.2 million) and to purchase the 11.5 million shares of Class A Common Stock and 5.0 million shares of Class B Common Stock on June 23, 2006 and June 29, 2006, respectively, and to pay fees and expenses related to the foregoing. The remaining proceeds are expected to be used to provide ongoing working capital (which may, in the future, include the funding of future acquisitions of radio stations) and for other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures.

The credit facility also provides for additional, incremental revolving credit or term loan facilities in an aggregate principal amount of up to an additional $200.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and upon our providing notice prior to June 30, 2009. These incremental credit facilities are permitted from time to time, and may be used to fund future acquisitions of radio stations and for other general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures. Any incremental credit facilities will be secured and guaranteed on the same basis as the term loan and revolving credit facilities.

Our obligations under the credit facility are collateralized by substantially all of our assets in which a security interest may lawfully be granted (including FCC licenses held by its subsidiaries), including, without limitation, intellectual property and all of the capital stock of our direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (except for Broadcast Software International, Inc.) and 65% of the capital stock of certain first-tier foreign subsidiaries. In addition, our obligations under the credit facility will be guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries.

The term loan facility will mature on June 7, 2013 and amortizes in equal quarterly installments beginning on September 30, 2006, with 0.25% of the initial aggregate advances payable each quarter during the first six years of the term, and 23.5% due in each quarter during the seventh year. The revolving credit facility will mature on June 7, 2012 and, except at our option, the commitment will remain unchanged up to that date.

Borrowings under the term loan facility bear interest, at our option, at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 2.0% or the Alternate Base Rate (defined as the higher of the Bank of America Prime Rate and the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%) plus 1.0%. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest, at our option, at a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin ranging between 0.675% and 2.0% or the Alternate Base Rate plus a margin ranging between 0.0% and 1.0% (in either case dependent upon our leverage ratio). As of September 30, 2006, the effective interest rate of the outstanding borrowings pursuant to the credit facility is approximately 7.70%.

Certain mandatory prepayments of the term loan facility would be required upon the occurrence of specified events, including upon the incurrence of certain additional indebtedness (other than under any incremental credit facilities) and upon the sale of certain assets.

Under the terms of the credit agreement governing the credit facility, we are subject to certain restrictive financial and operating covenants, including, but not limited to maximum leverage covenants, minimum interest coverage covenants, limitations on capital expenditures, asset dispositions and the payment of dividends. The failure to comply with the covenants would result in an event of default, which in turn would permit acceleration of debt under the credit facility. At September 30, 2006, we are in compliance with such financial and operating covenants.

The terms of the credit agreement contain events of default after expiration of applicable grace periods, including failure to make payments on the credit facility, breach of covenants, breach of representations and warranties, invalidity of the credit agreement and related documents, cross default under other agreements or conditions relating to our or our restricted subsidiaries’ indebtedness, certain events of liquidation, moratorium, insolvency, bankruptcy or similar events, enforcement of security, certain litigation or other proceedings, and certain events relating to changes in control. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the terms of the credit agreement, the majority of the lenders are able to declare all amounts under the credit facility to be due and payable and take certain other actions, including enforcement of rights in respect of the collateral. The majority of the banks extending credit under each term loan facility and the majority of the banks under each revolving credit facility may terminate such term loan facility and such revolving credit facility, respectively, upon an event of default.

In connection with the retirement of our pre-existing credit facilities, we recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $2.2 million, which was comprised of previously capitalized loan origination expenses. In connection with the new credit facility, we capitalized approximately $1.6 million of debt issuance costs, which will be amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.

New Accounting Pronouncement

In July, 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” which defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits or liabilities of tax return positions in a company’s financial statements. The Interpretation is effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2006. We have not yet determined the impact of this new pronouncement, however, we will begin to assess its tax return positions in order to apply the provisions of the new Interpretation for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2007.

Summary Disclosures About Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The following tables reflect a summary of our contractual cash obligations and other commercial commitments as of September 30, 2006 (dollars in thousands):

Payments Due By Period

						Less Than				2 to 3				4 to 5				After 5
Contractual Cash Obligations:		Total				1 Year				Years				Years				Years
Long-term debt(1)(2)		$	767,875			$	7,500			$	15,000			$	15,000			$	730,375
Acquisition obligations (3)		$	690			$	690				—				—				—
FCC auctions (4)		$	1,294			$	1,294				—				—				—
Operating leases		$	58,008			$	7,898			$	13,889			$	8,027			$	28,194
Digital radio capital obligations (5)		$	29,120			$	260			$	8,060			$	10,400			$	10,400
Other operating contracts(6)		$	22,883			$	9,996			$	12,887				—				—
Total Contractual Cash Obligations		$	879,870			$	27,638			$	49,836			$	33,427			$	768,969

Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period

Total Amounts

Less Than

1 to 3

4 to 5

After 5

Other Commercial Commitments:

Committed

1 Year

Years

Years

Years

Letter of Credit(1)

$

105

$

105

$        —

$        —

$        —

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

At September 30, 2006, 100% of our long-term debt bears interest at variable rates. Accordingly, our earnings and after-tax cash flow are affected by changes in interest rates. Assuming the current level of borrowings at variable rates and assuming a one percentage point change in the average interest rate under these borrowings, it is estimated that our interest expense and net income would have changed by $1.9 million and $5.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. As part of our efforts to mitigate interest rate risk, in May 2005, we entered into a forward starting interest rate swap agreement that effectively fixed the interest rate, based on LIBOR, on $400.0 million of our current floating rate bank borrowings for a three-year period commencing March 2006. This agreement is intended to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations and was not entered into for speculative purposes. Segregating the $367.9 million of borrowings outstanding at September 30, 2006 that are not subject to the interest rate swap and assuming a one percentage point change in the average interest rate under these borrowings, it is estimated that our interest expense and net income would have changed by $0.9 million and $2.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.

In the event of an adverse change in interest rates, management would likely take actions, in addition to the interest rate swap agreement discussed above, to further mitigate its exposure. However, due to the uncertainty of the actions that would be taken and their possible effects, additional analysis is not possible at this time. Further, such analysis could not take into account the effects of any change in the level of overall economic activity that could exist in such an environment.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

We maintain a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. At the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

We are from time to time involved in various legal proceedings that are handled and defended in the ordinary course of business. While we are unable to predict the outcome of these matters, management does not believe, based upon currently available facts, that the ultimate resolution of any such proceedings would have a material adverse effect on its overall financial condition or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to our risk factors as set forth in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On September 28, 2004, we announced that our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase, from time to time, of up to $100.0 million of our Class A Common Stock, subject to the terms of our then-existing credit agreement. Subsequently, on December 7, 2005, we announced that our Board had authorized the purchase of up to an additional $100.0 million of our Class A Common Stock.

The following table summarizes the repurchases of our common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2006:

														Maximum Dollar
										Total Number of				Value of Shares
										Shares Purchased As				that May Yet Be
		Total Number of				Average Price				Part of Publicly				Purchased Under
Period		Shares Purchased				Per Share				Announced Program				the Program
July 1, 2006 — July 31, 2006			200,000			$	9.33				200,000			$	62,067,816	(1)
August 1, 2006 — August 31, 2006			549,500			$	9.23				549,500			$	56,998,397	(1)
September 1, 2006 — September 30, 2006			—			$	—				—			$	56,998,397	(1)
Total			749,500								749,500

Cumulatively, including repurchases subsequent to September 30 through October 31, 2006, and including shares of Class A Common Stock purchased pursuant to the tender offer and shares of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the stock purchase agreement, we have repurchased 23,031,652 shares of Class A Common Stock or approximately $275.3 million in aggregate value, and 5,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, or approximately $57.5 million in aggregate value, since approval of the repurchase plans. We have authority to purchase an additional approximately $57.0 million of our Class A Common Stock, although as of October 31, 2006, the current terms of our credit agreement would limit us to approximately $2.0 million in additional repurchases.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

Not applicable.

Item 6. Exhibits

10.1	—	Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2006, among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company identified therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent.
31.1	—	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	—	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	—	Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

EXHIBIT INDEX

10.1	—	Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2006, among the Company, certain subsidiaries of the Company identified therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent.
31.1	—	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	—	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	—	Officer Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.